Monday, February 2, 2009

Know your Bible; see just how much of you actually ignore. The only parts of the Bible that you follow are the parts that suit you and your morals. And believe it or not, your morals (probably) don't follow the Bible.

You got to love that Bible...

Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to be kept silent.

Looney - what the two quotes prove is that a the Bible has at best a deeply paternalistic attitude to women. At worst it shows that the attitudes are inconsistent - almost to the point of being schizophrenic.

Bunc, first, I think we should note that Christianity brought a huge improvement to the status of women when it first spread throughout the empire. Some cultures had polygamy. The Romans had serial monogamy, where the wives were traded in like Americans trade in used cars.

More importantly, however, all cultures have unspoken social contracts giving both benefits and obligations. You can't unilaterally discard an obligation without paying a price somewhere else.

It says that no woman should "assume" authority over a man in other versions of the bible, but what if the man gives her authority, or she was commanded by GOD to teach? Men and woman have different roles and we all have spiritual gifts. For instance women are more fit to teach children since we are naturally child-bearers, and a man is to provide.

@ Bianca Hooper: Oh, and to answer your question: If a man gives her authority, the man is going against the word of God. If the woman believes she's been commanded by God to teach, then she is delusional.

According to the Bible anyway. In my atheistic opinion, women are to be treated equal and just as capable as men.

Bianca HooperWhat about woman prophets? Should they speak to a man about first before they give a prophesy? Also, I have been to churches where the men do not want to step up and assume a leadership position so the women step up only to help them, what do you think about that?

Personally, I don't agree with women leading a congregation because that is not biblical. Men are suppose to be shepherds of God's flock. I also know that it says in 1 corinthians 11:3 "Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."

@marf We are not saying that women are to be treated as dogs or that they should have mussels on their mouths. Women are to be treated in a loving manner. A marriage reflects Christ and the church. Christ has agape (unconditional love) for His people.1 Timothy 2:10-15 (New Living Translation)

10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.

11 Women should learn quietly and submissively. 12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them.[a] Let them listen quietly. 13 For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing,[b] assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.

@ Bianca Hooper: The Bible gets so much blatantly wrong, and the rest is written in such a way that it's vague enough to be about anything you want it to be. It's no better than any other religious text.

@ Anonymous (#15): I've read that passage before, and the ones around it to get some context. While the image was meant to be an exaggeration, it still says women are not to have a position of authority and are to be submissive. It also blames women for all sin. That to me is deeply offensive.

I do understand that the Bible was written BY men FOR men. Not just men as in humans, but literally males. So yes, I do think I understand why it is written that way.

Marf, you need to make sure you read right. You can make text say anything you like if you don't understand it. You comment '. Women should have equal rights and responsibilities.' Well, this is what the Bible says when you read it carefully. Please explore my comments on 1 Tim 2 here. http://www.psephizo.com/?p=822

I am catholic. Anyway, Bible was written over 2000 years ago and indeed reflects the social organization of those times. You can't deny that In 2000 years things are changed a little bit. For woman too...